September 30, 2013

Calderon believes Toronto deserves All-Star game

DALLAS -- For the first time ever, the NBA will host its annual All-Star Weekend outside of the United States.

And no one is happier than Dallas Mavericks point guard Jose Calderon.

The NBA announced Monday that the 2016 All-Star Weekend will be held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. That's good news for Calderon, who started his NBA career with Toronto in 2005 and played there until the Raptors traded him to the Detroit Pistons this past Jan. 30.

But despite departing Toronto, Calderon still has close ties to the city and knows Toronto deserves to host the NBA's mid-season classic.

"It's going to be great,'' Calderon said during Monday's Media Day at American Airlines Center. "Toronto, one thing I can say is we were in a good situation my first few years, a bad situationsometimes, but the fans were always there.''